Loading the AX25 Kernel Code
What are your options?
The ax25d daemon is the "engine" that runs all other services encorporated in the Utilities package. But you must have the kernel code installed in order for the ax25d to work. If you don't have the kernel code installed or loaded, the ax25d will have no "hooks" to "grab" on to! So, you have two options:
On my desktop and on my radio router, older machines, I compiled it into the kernel, but on the SuSE machine, a much more recent version, I load it as I would any other module. It is called ax25.o.
- Compile the AX25 (driver) code into the kernel
- Load the AX25 code as a module
The compile process is a lengthy and detail-oriented procedure which I am going to "side-step" at this point. If you are running an older version of Linux, you may have no choice but to compile. In a nut shell, run
"make menuconfig" and answer "yes" to all AX25 choices that pertain... (For some related hints and caveats when compiling, please see, Making the Soundmodem.o Module, page.) However, there are patches available that will modify some of the older kernels so that they will accept the ax25.o module...If you are running a newer kernel version, the module option is almost always available to you. Here is the insert command:
Where ur_OS_version_number would be something like 2.2.2. You may also find it using uname -r. (It is possible that it may be located in the directory misc instead of net, so adjust as needed.) On running lsmod, you should now see this module in the list, indicating that it has been "installed." Once the kernel "hooks" are in place, you may proceed with the configuration and running of the Utilities, including, and especially, the ax25d daemon.
- insmod /lib/modules/<ur_OS_version_number>/net/ax25.o
NOTE: Loading this module, the ax25.o, is a necessary preliminary to the running of any other daemons or servers associated with the AX25 Utilities. Therefore, it should be loaded as soon as is feasible, either manually or in a special setup script. It is the foundation on which all else is built for AX25.
(Courtesy KBNorton Computer Services)